Source: All Africa
Despite the advent of Christianity and Islam with the attendant change in way of life, villages in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) still indulge in the old age practice of killing of twins which the Scottish missionary to Nigeria Mary Mitchell Slessor abolished in the 19th Century.

The Federeal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said the killing of twins also called infanticide still occurs in some remote villages of the FCT.

FCTA Ad-hoc Committee on Infanticide and Twins-killing took its campaign to four area councils of Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Kuje recently.

The FCT Director of Information and Communications, Mrs. Stella Ojeme, led the three-week advocacy campaign against the scourge to Yaba, Gulida, Gomani, Tepase, Dawaki, Warambi, Kiyi and Shetuko villages.

The director, who was represented at the campaign by Assistant Director Information, Muktar Ibrahim, berated villagers who still perpetrate the act.

Mrs. Ojeme stressed the need for parents and guardians to take their children and wards to school to improve their living standards.

The Information Director explained that it is ungodly to kill twins who she said are God's creation and blessing to the family and society.

She said, "They (twins) have a right to live just like any other person and should not be judged by the circumstances of their birth."

Mrs. Ojeme lamented that the poor child delivery methods amongst the rural dwellers is one of the major causes of maternal mortality and therefore encouraged pregnant women to avail themselves of the liberalized health care facilities provided by the FCTA and area councils.

Her words: "Ignorance is largely responsible for such practices among these communities, and I urge you the community leaders to help spread the committee's message against infanticide to the people."

Leaflets, T-shirts, face-caps, banners were distributed in those communities, showing the ills of infanticide to the society. Billboards were also mounted.

The Ona of Abaji and Chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs, Adamu Baba Yunusa, promised that FCT traditional council would join the campaign to eradicate infanticide, describing the act as anti-social.

The Etsu Kwali, Alhaji Audu Shaban Nizazo III, Aguma of Gwagwalada, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji and the Gomo of Kuje, Alhaju Jibrin Tanko praised the FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu, for the diligent way he has been supervising the FCT affairs and pledged the support and cooperation of their communities.

• Nigeria